Leicester City's Promotion Ambition Set to Suffer Huge Hit Following Departure of Key African Stars

• Leicester City will lose four of their best players to AFCON
• Fatawu Issahaku is expected to join the Black Stars of Ghana
• Wilfried Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho have been named in the Nigeria squad

Leicester City will face a tough time during January and February following the involvement of four of their key players for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next month.

The promotion chasers are set to lose Ghanaian forward Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Super Eagles duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfried Ndidi and Zambia's Patson Daka to the tournament.

The quartet of African stars have been key to the Foxes Premier League return ambitions, contributing hugely to their place at the top of the table.

Fatawu, Ihenacho and Ndidi have provided 20 goals for Leicester this season and 19 of Leicester's 44 goals in the English Championship has come from at least one African contingent scoring or providing an assist, according to Leicester Mercury.

Issahaku Abdul Fatawu's player profile, current team, age, stats, achievements, latest news, salary

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The Ghanaian youngster, who is on loan from Sporting Lisbon has scored twice and provided five assists in the Championship.

Barring any last-minute injuries, all four players will join their countries for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Games Leicester will play without the AFCON quartet

With Ghana and Nigeria tagged as favourites at the tournament, it will not be a surprise to see the two nations, with seven AFCON titles advance to the latter stages. Patson Daka's Zambia have often been regarded as dark horses and could pull a surprise with former Chelsea coach Avram Grant leading them.

Leicester could lose these players for the following games Coventry, promotion rivals Ipswich, Swansea, Stoke, and Watford, per the club's official website.

This could be a huge advantage to their promotion rivals who will be losing fewer players, compared to Leicester City.

Fatawu praises Iheanacho's impact at Leicester

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ghanaian youngster, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku praised Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho, for playing an inspiring role in him getting his debut goal for Leicester City.

The 19-year-old scored his maiden goal for the club in the comeback win against Swansea City on Saturday in the English Championship.

Issahaku is enjoying a good start to his career in England, having carved his way into the first team just a little over a month after signing for the club on loan.